We had the good fortune of connecting with Rob Cohen and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Rob, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
People. Fresh out of school I was fortunate enough to work for several large, Fortune 500 companies. While the big company structure ultimately wasn’t my cup of tea, in each case I found myself surrounded by the best and the brightest individuals I had ever met. And each had the experience and battle scars that I lacked. I worked hard and allowed myself to be ‘coach-able’, and as a result my managers and those above them made it a point to take me under their collective wings and serve as mentors. This led to progressively difficult work assignments, but with the guidance to be successful at them. Because of the personal attention I received and my willingness to accept instruction and feedback, my learning curve was accelerated, measured in dog years. I was able to gain experience and knowledge at a rate I never imagined. Today the script has been flipped and I find myself more often in the role of mentor rather than student, but those same connections drive my company today. Nothing it more exciting than having a young, motivated team member with intellectual curiosity and a desire to constantly improve. We recruit for that and when we find it, I do my best to give back in the same fashion others gave to me. But I must admit, I’m not done learning. I’m constantly challenged to improve by the talented team at 4 Corner Tire Shop & Auto Repair.
What should our readers know about your business?
Diversity has certainly been a common buzzword in recent years, but I can’t think of a better way to describe the business model of 4 Corner Tire Shop & Auto Repair. Our tagline, “Serving Families, Fleets, and Fanatics Since 2009”, really captures that and lets our customers know that no matter what they drive – we have it covered. On any given day we might have a family sedan in one bay, a bucket truck in the next, and an exotic sports car or two on the other side of the garage. Additionally we have a thriving tire wholesale business housed under the same roof that serves smaller tire shops throughout Broward County. The diversity of our customer base makes it fun to come to work everyday but it also creates complexity. Each type of customer has very different needs and our entire team must be cross trained to serve each customer type. To simplify things we have invested in technology (I suspect we have the most advanced equipment of any independently run shop in the area) but ultimately it comes back to having the right staff in place. I like to remind the team that everyone at 4 Corner has the same job description – Customer Service. I feel fortunate that our team has embraced that philosophy and we come to work ready to serve every day!
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Fort Lauderdale has so much to offer, I’d suggest a longer stay than just a week! For home base, there is no better spot than a room at the Atlantic Hotel & Spa. It’s close to everything, right on the beach, and every room has its own private balcony to enjoy the Florida sunshine. Sitting around on the beach is OK for some, but I prefer to get out on the water. The area offers all kinds of options from renting wave runners to all day boat excursions. Both fishing trips and scuba diving are popular, though I prefer the latter given the beautiful reefs and ship wrecks in the area. Make sure you rent something fun to drive because Homestead-Miami Speedway is just a little more than an hour away and open lapping is available though multiple driving clubs for almost any experience level. To keep the sporting theme going, a trip to the new Inter Miami CF Soccer Stadium is in order, so make sure you schedule your trip around a home MLS game. All the activity will work up an appetite and quite a thirst. Off the beaten path from the normal tourist spots, Casa D’Angelo has some of the best Italian food in S. Florida and a fantastic wine list to match. It is not to be missed.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My success would not have been possible without the limitless support and love from my wife, Karen. Very few would put up with the long work hours away from home. Even fewer would put up with the ’emotional distance’ that can occur when you are home but still deep in thought about the business. And maybe only a handful will accept that the annual vacation will be spent at a race track instead of a beach or a mountain top. Karen has not only accepted my ‘faults’, but she has encouraged me every step of the way. Her strength, patience, and support has been the trigger that enables everything to happen.
Website: www.4cornertireshop.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4cornertireshop/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-cohen-b1b5294/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4cornertireshop
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxwr-olzEnEUsCXpedE7xsw